53 Instructor Profile: From the time she was a child, Bonnie wanted to be a teacher. However, it took a long time to realize that dream. Fresh out of high school – in the pre-personal computer era – Bonnie embarked on a BA (Honours) in English literature. After marrying and beginning a family, financial necessity led her to take a variety of jobs, including bookstore manager, healthcare aide, and office manager of a private surgical centre. In 2007, at age 50, Bonnie was finally able to return to school to pursue a Master’s degree in TESOL at the University of Alberta. What followed were 13 fulfilling years as a full-time instructor at Edmonton’s NorQuest College, where she taught English for Speakers of Other Languages – specifically LINC – at CLB levels from 3 to 8. In May 2023, Bonnie retired from full-time work at NorQuest. Today, she works with New Language Solutions (NLS) as a technology-adoption mentor for TESOL instructors. Context: Technology adoption is often a significant challenge for TESOL instructors and their students. Many instructors entering TESOL programs have had limited exposure to computer-assisted language learning (CALL) technologies before enrolling. Within an already demanding TESOL curriculum, coming to grips with CALL hardware, software, and teaching approaches presents a particularly demanding challenge. Students in the LINC program are usually dealing with daunting challenges of their own such as understanding a new culture, finding work, searching for accommodation, accessing services, raising a family, and learning a new language. The need to learn how to use unfamiliar learning technologies adds yet another hill to climb. For new instructors and language learners alike, being able to look to others for advice, suggested resources, and problem-solving strategies can make the climb so much easier. Today, Bonnie is often asked to help others use technology to enhance their language teaching. However, when she left a career in healthcare in 2007 to begin a Master’s program in TESOL, Bonnie had only the most limited understanding of computers and computing. She struggled so much with the Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) course she took during her first year that she briefly considered dropping out of the program. However, Bonnie persevered, earned her degree, and has continued learning about and applying CALL technologies ever since. The experience of going back to school and facing a steep technology-learning curve has given Bonnie an appreciation for the circumstances faced by many of the people she teaches. In Bonnie’s Own Words In 2007, at age 50, I was at last in a position to return to school to pursue a Master’s degree in TESOL at the University of Alberta. Part of my motivation was an interest in social justice issues. Canada is unique in the way we welcome newcomers. We offer language training free to the newcomer because we want them to settle successfully in Canada. We want newcomers to feel that Canada is their home. That philosophy really appealed to me. CC-BY-NC-SA 2025 New Language Solutions Avenue Instructor Standards for Technology-Enhanced Language Learning, version 1.2
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